I am at the point where I am ready to build a shop at my new place. I am undecided on which type of building to do. I'm either going to do a stick built building on concrete or a metal frame building. The metal frame would be the cheaper solution. Does anyone here have one and if so what are your experiences with them?
Shop building
- Thread starter Rusty red
- Start date
I put up a "real, actual shop" in 2022.
In my neck of the woods, this company is really popular. They've installed a lot of buildings. I took a hard look at them and though they could supply what I was looking for, I just couldn't wrap my head around how lightweight they "looked." https://www.superiormsc.com/
I ended up putting up a Morton Building. It's a wood framed pole barn. I've always liked them because of their ads in Progressive Farmer magazine back in the 80s....I was VERY happy with how it turned out. It cost more, but I feel like I got a good building.
Whatever you do, put up the biggest building with the most features that you can afford. If you don't, you'll regret it later!
Al
In my neck of the woods, this company is really popular. They've installed a lot of buildings. I took a hard look at them and though they could supply what I was looking for, I just couldn't wrap my head around how lightweight they "looked." https://www.superiormsc.com/
I ended up putting up a Morton Building. It's a wood framed pole barn. I've always liked them because of their ads in Progressive Farmer magazine back in the 80s....I was VERY happy with how it turned out. It cost more, but I feel like I got a good building.
Whatever you do, put up the biggest building with the most features that you can afford. If you don't, you'll regret it later!
Al
Don McCombs
501 Club
Agree with Al. Figure out what size building you think you need, then double it. 
Bill Hudson
501 Club
Don McCombs":3geapuyr said:Agree with Al. Figure out what size building you think you need, then double it.
Yes, sir!
Had a 30' x 40' wood framed pole barn put up on site. Barn construction cost a bit over $6K. Son and I installed the cement floor and electricity.Bill Hudson":1m5hc1om said:
We had a wider and taller main machinery door installed and an extra machinery door included in the construction.
Should have constructed a larger building.
Edit: Translucent panels were not included in the builder's bid. After using the building for a while, we added then on the buildings end panels near the peak and both of the machinery doors. They really add in a lot of light.
I can't advise on one type over another, but I found a few things I'd do different, if I had to do it over. I had a 40 X 60, 14' tall pole barn built about 8 years ago. The builder did a fantastic job, great quality!
I put in 3 roll up doors; 2 - 10 X 10 and 1 10 X 12. 10' wide seemed logical, almost a foot on each side of a trailer or truck. That's tighter than I thought, especially backing in a trailer. I should have gone 12' wide.
14' tall has been fine for my current use. I went with scissors trusses and have adequate head room in my loft storage area above my finished shop area that has 9' ceiling (16 X 40). 16' tall walls would have eliminated ducking on the sloped sides. Also would allow for a taller door if I ever wanted to store a taller RV inside.
I have 4" cement throughout, which is supposed to be adequate for some 2 post lifts, some, not. I should have gone thicker in a couple potential lift areas.
Vapor barrier, under the cement would be definite, must have! Little expense with big benefits to address sweaty floors a few times a year.
All of these things would have obviously added cost, but in my opinion, would have been worth the money.
Final comment is to have a man door on the back wall, especially if you have all door on one side. A safety and convenient thing to have, I'm glad it was recommended to me and I dis it.
I'm glad I got mine built and pretty much finished when I did, it would probably cost 50% more now to do it!
Best of luck, which ever way you go,
I put in 3 roll up doors; 2 - 10 X 10 and 1 10 X 12. 10' wide seemed logical, almost a foot on each side of a trailer or truck. That's tighter than I thought, especially backing in a trailer. I should have gone 12' wide.
14' tall has been fine for my current use. I went with scissors trusses and have adequate head room in my loft storage area above my finished shop area that has 9' ceiling (16 X 40). 16' tall walls would have eliminated ducking on the sloped sides. Also would allow for a taller door if I ever wanted to store a taller RV inside.
I have 4" cement throughout, which is supposed to be adequate for some 2 post lifts, some, not. I should have gone thicker in a couple potential lift areas.
Vapor barrier, under the cement would be definite, must have! Little expense with big benefits to address sweaty floors a few times a year.
All of these things would have obviously added cost, but in my opinion, would have been worth the money.
Final comment is to have a man door on the back wall, especially if you have all door on one side. A safety and convenient thing to have, I'm glad it was recommended to me and I dis it.
I'm glad I got mine built and pretty much finished when I did, it would probably cost 50% more now to do it!
Best of luck, which ever way you go,
Oops, one more thing I added, that I love is 4 windows across the front. They are in my finished shop end and not only add natural light, but I love have a view when I'm in there, less claustrophobic! Any cut outs made to the exterior metal opens the chance for water leaks, must be properly installed and sealed. I had to chase a leak until I got one window sealed properly.
Best of luck,
Best of luck,
Mine is 60' x 120' x 16' , -- NO windows, 1 solid walk in door, 40' side doors, 32' end door on the North end. --- still have trouble with thieves tearing holes in the walls to get in and steal stuff, so the shed is useless to me. --- In the process of trying to find a buyer for it to remove it and take it home with them.
Things we did wrong.
We should have increased the side wall height to 12 feet instead of 8 feet. Then we could have installed an overhead shop crane/trolley. Would have provided more end wall storage space.
We didn't plan the location of large non-movable shop equipment which cover electrical switches and outlets.
Things we did right.
Son and I visited the builder's business site and toured the fully constructed display buildings. Then discussed the upgrades and building's layout.
Covered the bottom 4' of interior walls with sheet metal to protect/keep things from hitting the building's exterior sheet metal.
Exterior motion activated lights. Interior and exterior cameras recording everything.
200 amp electrical service.
We should have increased the side wall height to 12 feet instead of 8 feet. Then we could have installed an overhead shop crane/trolley. Would have provided more end wall storage space.
We didn't plan the location of large non-movable shop equipment which cover electrical switches and outlets.
Things we did right.
Son and I visited the builder's business site and toured the fully constructed display buildings. Then discussed the upgrades and building's layout.
Covered the bottom 4' of interior walls with sheet metal to protect/keep things from hitting the building's exterior sheet metal.
Exterior motion activated lights. Interior and exterior cameras recording everything.
200 amp electrical service.
Don McCombs
501 Club
To add to David’s comment about the vapor barrier. Include a floor drain for each bay and slope the floor to each drain. Insulate the interior of the walls and roof with z-fold insulation.
I have seen Davids's shop and I like the view with his windows. However, if I had those windows in my they would be covered with shelving. :lol:
I went with the 16 foot walls with scissors trusses, but my shop with a loft has ten foot ceiling. I ended up hitting my head on the trusses on the ends. Probably should have gone with 9 foot shop walls, But I wanted to keep my ceiling fan a bit higher.
I went with the 16 foot walls with scissors trusses, but my shop with a loft has ten foot ceiling. I ended up hitting my head on the trusses on the ends. Probably should have gone with 9 foot shop walls, But I wanted to keep my ceiling fan a bit higher.